SEARCH STRATEGY
                                        How to Select Resources

 Define Topic
 I.  Consider the big picture (discipline or aspect)
·        Humanities (Art, Literature, History)
·        Social Sciences (Sociology, Psychology, Crime)
·        Sciences (Medicine, Animals, Plants)
·        Scope (brief or broad)
·        For or against
Ø     Time Factor
·        Historical
·        Current
·        A combination of historical and current
Ø     Treatment
·        Popular: Intended for use by the lay person
·        Scholarly: Written by experts in the field of research
Ø     Format
·        Book
·        CD-ROM
·        Internet
·        Journal or Magazine
·        Microform
·        Newspaper
Ø     Type of Source
·        General information for background of topic
·        Specific facts – biographical, geographical, statistical, etc.
·        Primary source – original source of information
·        Secondary source – commentary based on first hand accounts.
          Information reported after the fact (books, encyclopedia).
II.      Select Sources
Ø     Preliminary Investigation
·        Consult: general encyclopedia current periodicals
Ø     Overview of Topic
·        Consult: general encyclopedias, current periodicals, books
Ø     Definitions
·        Consult: dictionary subject dictionaries
Ø     Primary Sources
·        Consult: newspapers, government publications, research reports,
                       archives                   
Ø     Secondary Sources
·        Consult: books, journal and magazine articles, subject encyclopedias
Ø     Facts
·        Consult: almanacs, government publications,
                   internet sites, yearbooks
Ø     Current Information
·        Consult: journals, magazines, newspapers
Ø     Historical Information
          Consult: books, encyclopedias, reference materials
     Evaluate Sources
·        Consult: author information
                        book reviews, publisher information
 Ø     Evaluate Author
·        Educational background
·        Professional experience
·        Reputation
Ø     Evaluate Publisher
·        Reputation: Publishing house or University Press
·        Not self published
Ø     Evaluate Content
·        Scope: in-depth or selected areas of topic
·        Objectivity: gives facts, overall evaluation of topic
Ø     Evaluate User Aids
·        Charts and graphs
·        Illustrations
·        Index